Other Free Canada Day Activities

All day long, there will be free activities for kids of all ages at most of the Capital Region’s national museums and institutions. Make the most of them!

11 a.m. to 7 p.m. (Beginning June 27) - Downtown Rideau presents Show Your Red, White & True...Patriot Love

• A series of events to celebrate Canada’s birthday, including  patios, family entertainment, and the Top of the World Extreme Sports Show featuring a BMX Bike Show and Skateboard Contest. Visit www.downtownrideau.com for more details. 

8 a.m. and 9:30 a.m. - Commonwealth Run

• Start and arrival: Canadian War Museum. Commonwealth Games Canada and MYCommonwealth invite you, your family, or your team to kick off Canada Day with a 10K or 5K run/walk, and a 1K for kids. Proceeds go toward sport and education activities promoting Commonwealth values to youth in Canada and abroad! www.commonwealthgames.ca

8:30 a.m. - Commemoration of the 98th Anniversary of the Battles of the Somme and Beaumont Hamel

•  National Aboriginal Veterans Monument (located in Confederation Park) Ottawa’s Newfoundland and Labrador community invites everyone in the National Capital Region to attend this deeply moving annual event to commemorate the members of the Royal Newfoundland Regiment who fought in France in 1916.

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Canada Agriculture and Food Museum

•  Visit the Canada Agriculture and Food Museum for a fun-filled day of games, activities, and ice cream making—and tasting! Discover Canada's unique agricultural heritage and future while visiting the animal barns. Free admission on July 1. www.cafmuseum.techno-science.ca/

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Canada Aviation and Space Museum

•  The Canada Aviation and Space Museum is among the best places to celebrate Canada Day with your family. Join us for a full day of aviation fun and engaging activities as the Museum opens its doors and grounds free of charge. www.casmuseum.techno-science.ca

9 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Canada Science and Technology Museum

•  Canada Day is FREE at the Canada Science and Technology Museum, where the whole family will find lots to see and do. New exhibitions, hands-on activities, and amazing demonstrations make the Museum an excellent place to celebrate July 1. A fascinating world awaits you! www.sciencetech.technomuses.ca

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Canadian Museum of Nature

•  Free general admission to the Museum’s “castle” on Canada Day! Explore Canada’s natural history through world-class galleries. See dinosaurs, mammals, birds, creepy crawlies, dazzling minerals, a 19-metre real blue whale skeleton, and more. Discover living things that glow in the exhibitCreatures of Light: Nature’s Bioluminescence. Enjoy surfing action with the 3D movie The Ultimate Wave – Tahiti. (Admission fees apply for 3D movies and special exhibitions. Follow the Museum on Twitter, Instagram (MuseumofNature), and Facebook.www.nature.ca

9 a.m. to 6 p.m. - Royal Canadian Mint

•  Bring the whole family to celebrate Canada Day at the Royal Canadian Mint! Discover how coins are made with FREE tours of the Mint from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and take part in many exciting events. You’ll be able to strike your very own Canada Day medallion—a gift from the Royal Canadian Mint! www.mint.ca

9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Canadian Museum of History (formerly the Canadian Museum of Civilization)

•  Take advantage of free admission to the Museum on Canada Day and visit our special summer exhibitions: Canada’s Titanic – The Empress of Irelandand Snow. Don’t forget to stop by the Canadian Children’s Museum with your little ones. IMAX: Live the ultimate IMAX experience at the only IMAX 3D screen and dome theatre in North America! Located at the Canadian Museum of History. Now playing: Pandas 3D. www.historymuseum.ca

9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Canadian Children’s Museum (located inside the Canadian Museum of History)

•  Passports in hand, visitors experience one incredible destination after another. A world of discovery where parents have as much fun as their kids! www.historymuseum.ca/childrens-museum

9:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. - Canadian War Museum

•  Take advantage of free admission to the Museum to visit our special summer exhibitions, Witness — Canadian Art of the First World War and Transformations — A.Y. Jackson & Otto Dix. Don’t forget to visit the LeBreton Gallery, which offers up-close access to authentic military vehicles, artillery, and other technology used by and against Canadians in times of war and peace. www.warmuseum.ca

10 a.m. to 10 p.m. - Celebrate Canada Day at the NAC!

•  The National Arts Centre (NAC) is opening its doors all day to offer concerts and activities for this annual celebration. For complete information about NAC’s Canada Day events, visit www.nac-cna.ca.

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - National Gallery of Canada

•  Celebrate Canada Day with free admission to the collection. Join an informal conversation about an artwork, rent an audio guide, or get creative at the family Artissimo kiosk. Watch the magnificent fireworks show from the plaza in the evening. www.gallery.ca

10 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Gatineau Park, a gem in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region!

•  Find out how you can help protect Gatineau Park, a treasure in the heart of Canada’s Capital Region. Park conservation officers will be on hand to answer questions about the Park’s plants and wildlife, and interpreters will reveal some of the stories about the Park’s fascinating heritage sites. Presented by the National Capital Commission

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Bytown Museum

•  Discover the story of Ottawa this Canada Day! Your admission fee allows you to explore our permanent exhibitions on the upper floors, including Ottawa Answers the Call: The Capital and The Great War. Ice cream, freshly squeezed lemonade, souvenirs, and much more are available in the Café & Boutique. www.bytownmuseum.com

10 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Rideau Hall, Official Residence of the Governor General of Canada

•  Escape the downtown crowds and visit the residence where Canadian history comes alive. Come stroll the grounds and discover It’s an Honour!, a travelling exhibit that celebrates the extraordinary achievements of everyday Canadians. Free admission. www.gg.ca

11 a.m. to 5 p.m. - Aboriginal Experiences at Victoria Island

•  Enjoy authentic First Nations drumming and dancing, traditional Aboriginal cuisine, children’s craft making, and storytelling in a teepee. http://www.aboriginalexperiences.com/

1 p.m. to 4 p.m. - Mackenzie-King Estate

•  This summer, rediscover the beauty of the Mackenzie-King Estate. Visit the restored cottages, gardens, and picturesque ruins. Hike through natural areas and enjoy fun activities for all ages. Come celebrate Canada Day at the Estate with cake, live music, games for kids, and more! www.ncc-ccn.gc.ca/places-to-visit/mackenzie-king-estate

1 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. - TD Ottawa Jazz Festival

•  Canada’s best up-and-coming artists and ensembles—free on Canada Day, courtesy of the Ottawa Jazz Festival Inc. www.ottawajazzfestival.com

Info from Government of Canada